Keeping the local hospital strong is a must for building a rural economy. It’s possible, but not easy. In Nevada, Professors John Packham and Thomas Harris direct Nevada Rural Health Works (RHW), a program focused on the impact of healthcare on rural economies. In the Silver State it directly provides 6,000 to 7,000 good paying jobs and another 1,500 secondary jobs. In … [Read more...]
Creating a more resilient rural economy
Rural economies are becoming more versatile and, hopefully, more sustainable, bringing resilience in the face of industry changes. Diversification in rural economies is a real possibility thanks to technology enabling entrepreneurs to connect to a global marketplace. This is manifesting itself in several ways. For one, information technology (IT) companies are becoming … [Read more...]
Episode 7: Diversify Rural Economy
In Episode 7 we look at various efforts to diversify and strengthen rural economies. We see how an old pioneer town is poised to grow its international tourism economy. We talk about how IT companies are having success locating in rural areas. Then we visit with a state development director on how entrepreneurship is catching fire in small towns. Show Notes Parowan: Finding … [Read more...]
Episode 6: Focusing on small towns
The Register-Mail, a newspaper in Galesburg, Illinois, is doing a 12-part series focusing on small towns — less than 1,000 population — in west-central Illinois. The purpose is to look at each featured town's trajectory, from its history to its future. Further, the series looks at what makes each town valuable and unique. In this episode, we speak to an editor and reporter from … [Read more...]
Drought causing challenges in agriculture, though profits remain high
With a long-term drought plaguing much of California and Northern Nevada, the agriculture industry is adjusting and innovating. “[The drought] is one of the worst we’ve had in history,” said UC Davis Professor and watershed expert Jay Lund. “In some ways, particularly up in the watersheds, because it’s been extra warm, it’s among the driest in history.” Lund added, “Some … [Read more...]